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Something turned up in the mail this week, which we’ve not seen for several years here. Several years ago, many people turned over postcards to me which they received through the U.S. mail. These postcards notified their recipients that they won a $100 gift card for use at Target or Walmart.

Iowa homeless shelter sees high demand for beds

Dec 18, 2017

DUBUQUE — A homeless shelter in Eastern Iowa is facing a growing demand for beds, despite federal figures showing a drop in homeless populations statewide and in some nearby states.

The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the Dubuque Rescue Mission is so overwhelmed by the demand that it’s set up beds in hallways and a laundry room. The demand reached its highest point of the past three years in November, when the number of “bed nights” reached 1,980.

That comes even as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development data show that homeless populations have dropped significantly in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois compared with last year.

The shelter’s director says the rising demand is a result of chronic mental health and substance abuse issues.

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